Electrically-propelled vehicle.



PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

- J. LEDWINKA.

ELEGTRIGALLY PROPELLED VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1906.

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. IIIIIIHIll!llIIHIINIIIIIIIH(IIHIINI r||||||||||||||||1||||||||||||||||| I i I l I l l l1 0117/7/41. 22y @Z k3 5i ATTORNEYS.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RUSSELL THAY ER,

ELEOTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

, Patented. my as, 1908.

' Application filed May 18, 1906. ihi'ial No. 817,709.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, JOSEPH LEDWINKA, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the certain new and useful Improvement in Electrically-Propelled Vehicles, whereof the following is a specificatiomreference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My improvement is app icable to any electrically propelled vehic e which derives its motor current alternatel from an external suppl s stem and rom a storage battery carried the vehicle. Such vehicles may be emplbyed in connection with a railway supply system whoseelectric circuit includes a single overhead wire and subjacent tracks, or a trackless system whose electric circuit comprises two overhead wires for connection with the vehicle, or a system with which the vehicles are otherwise connectedl It is the object of m invention to provide means to instantly an automatically change the circuit connections of the motor of such a vehicle, from the external supply circuit to the internal battery sup ly circuit, and conversely so as to insure t at said motor shall always be in connection with one or the other source of energy and not in connection with both contem oraneously. 1

As hereina ter described my improvement comprises a solenoid coil, a core carrying switch members, and a counterbalance for said core; whereby the circuit connections are changed, as aforesaid as the consequence of making or breaking e ectrical connection between the vehicle and the external supply.

circuit. a

My invention comprises the various novel features of constructionand arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified and claimed.

The drawing is a dlagrammatlc view showing the essential elements included inthe electrical circuit carried by the vehicle, in connection with an overhead su ply wire and a subjacent track both comprised in a railwaly supply system.

n sa1 drawin the dotted outhne 1, 1ndicates the 'vehi le having the supporting wheel 2 in operative relation with t e vehiole motor comprising the field 3, armature 4,

brush 5, commutator 6, and brush 7. The

scribe vehicle carries the adjustable contact pole indicated at 10, arranged to electrically connect with the overhead supply wire 12. a the position of the apparatus shown in the drawing, said motor 1s in operative connection w1th the external supply system and the circuit is established through the pole 10, lead 13, switch terminal 14, switch bridge 15, switch terminaljlo, lead 17, controller 18, lead 19, field 3, brush. 5, commutator 6, brush 7, lead 21, and contact wheel 22, to the track 23. Said switch bridge 15, is carried on the stem; 25, of the solenoid core 26,

which is arranged to reciprocate within the solenoid coil 27, and, the circuit is maintained closed while the circuit is established between the wire 12, and the pole 10, by current in the branch circuit including the lead 30, from the lead 13, to the coil 27, and the lead 31, from said coil 27 to the lead 32, which connects with the lead 21.

The stem 34 extending from the core 26,,

olppositely to t e stem 25, is provided with t e. spring 35, which automatically withdraws the bridge -15, by the core 26 and breaks the circuit between the terminals 14, and 16, andchanges'the connections of the motor from the external su ply circuit to the internal supply circuit W en the circuit is broken between the overhead sugpl wire 12, and the contact device 10. ai stem 34, carries the'switch bridge 37, which elec-. trically connects the switch terminals 38,

and-39,when the s ring 35 is permitted to act, b breaking t e circuit as above de- The connection of said terminals 38, and 39, by the bridge 37, connects the motor aforesald with the storage battery 40,

by establishing the circuit through the ter.

minal 38, lead 41, battery 40, lead 42, lead 19,-field '3, brush 5, commutator 6 brush 7 lead 32, controller 18, lead 45, andterminal 39. Therefore, it is to be understood that the apparatus abovejdescribed is automatically 0 eritive to instantly change the connec- -t1ons of the vehicle motor from the external supp y circuit to the internal battery supply circuit, and conversely, so as to insure t at said motor shall be supplied by one or the other source of energy without intermission, so' that the vehicle may be continuously progressed; such chan e in the circuit connectlons being effects as a consequenceof breaking or making connection with the external circuit, by raising or. lowering the pole 10, and without any other manipulation of the apparatus.

it is to'be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein described, as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of y invention.

storage battery carried by the vehicle, a.

motor; a motor controller; a storage bat tery; and, switch mechanism arranged to change the circuit connections of said motor from the external supply circuit to the internal supply circuit, comprising a solenoid coil in a circuit parallel with said controller and independent of said battery circuit, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electrically propelled vehicle which derives its motor current alternately from an external supply system and from a storage battery carried by the vehicle, a motor;-a. motorcontroller; a storage battery; switch mechanism arranged to change the circuit connections ofsai rnotor from the external supply circuit to the internal i supply circuit, comprising a solenoid coil in a circuit parallel with said controller; a so lenoid core provided with means arranged to .maintain said motor connected with said external supply circuit; and, mechanical means connected with said core, arranged tobrealr the connection between said motor and the external supply circuit and establish the connection between said motor and the battery when the external supply circuit is broken, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electrically propelled vehicle, which derives its motor current alternately from an external. supply system and from a storage battery carried by the vehicle, a motor; a motor controller; a storage battery; switch mechanism comprising electrically actuated means arranged to maintain said motor in connection with the external sup ly circuit when said circuit is closed; an mechanical means arranged to establish the connection between said motor and said battery when the external supply circuit is broken, substantially as set forth.

5. in an electrically propelled vehicle, which derives itsmotor current alternately from an external supply system and from a storagenbattery carried by the vehicle, a motor; a motor controller; a storage battery; and, switch mechanism arrangedto change the circuit connections of said motor from the external supply circuit to the inter nal supply circuit, comprising a solenoid coil I m. a circuit parallel with said controller,. and with said motor, substantially as set forth.

. in testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name, at Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, this 17th day of May,

1906. JOSEPH LEDWINKA.

Witnesses:

CHARLES @LBERG, W. WAYNE WIRGELAN. 

